Printing apparatus



SePt- 3, 1940- C. J. RoHLAND I PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1937 4Sheets-,Sheet 1 l x TNI/ENToR.v

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' ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 3, 1940. c. J. RoHLAND PRINTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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' Sept 3, 1940- c.. J. ROHLAND 2,213,569

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ATYURNEYS v Patented Sept. 3, 1940 UN'IE@ STATES anita PRNTING AFPARATUSCurt J. Ruhland, Seekonk, Mass., assigner to Paul- Rohland, lino., acorporation of Rhode Island Application May l0, i937, Serial No. 141,613

This invention relates to a printing apparatus; and has for one of itsobjects the provision of an apparatus in which there may be printing ofthe work in any desired number of diierent colors and embossing orsevering th-e work as it is discharged from the machine, all in a singlepass of the work through the machine without transfer to a differentmachine for the cutting operation.

Another object of the invention is to travel the work through themachine with greater accuracy so that it will better register with thep-arts which are to print and/or cut the work than is: provided byprinting or cutting work in a single at plane by rotating means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of unitseach one of which handles the printing of a certain specific colo-r withan arrangement so that any desired number of units 20 may be supplied orremoved from the machine when diierent numbers of colors are desired.

Another object of the invention is to adjust each of the printing unitsso that different sorts of Awork may be accommodated as topressureapplied and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide each of the print unitswith the printing rolls and ink conveying rolls with'their axes insubstantially the same plane so that from the standpoint of thickness ofthe dimension of the units they may be multiplied and several of thesemay be used with such an arrangement that the ink reservoirs of each ofthe units is accessible to the operator.

Another object of the invention is to dispose or travel the work over anarcuate apron or on a radius so that the work will better register .witheach of the stations where it is to be ma-r nipulated and also will pullaway from the cut- 40 ting or printing in a better degree than were thework disposed and traveled along a straight line or in a single plane.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation somewhat diagrammatic of the arrangement ofsome of the functioning parts of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale of the two units shown atthe right of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the upper .unit shown in Fig. 2;

55 Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line llof thel 60 cutting roll and alsobearer roll such as shown (Cl. i-4.81)

in both Figs. 4 and 5, which will be used in the last unit to operateupon thework;

Fig. '7 is a sectional View of the working portion of a bearer roll;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one form ofv a printing and cutting rollplate;

`Figs. 9 and 10 are face Views of fragmental portions of the cuttingroll and the bearer roll showing the disposition of the soft and hardportions of these rolls for operation of the cutters; and

Fig. l1 -is a sectional view of the ink transfer roll and the mountingtherefor taken substantially on linel l-l l of Fig. 2.

In rotary printing usually any cutting to be done on the work isperformed `in a separate operation after being printed.'V Any embossingor cutting which is done at the time of the printing usually occurswhile the work is traveling in a single plane or against a at plate inthe reciprocating type of press printing. The present apparatus is soarranged that it may print by means of rotary cylinders and also cut atthe same time as printing so that the operation of the machine may bematerially speeded up and yet all of thel desired functions performed inonel apparatus. I further provide for a plurality of diferent printingunits, each of which may be utilized for carrying and handling adifferent color so that a variety of colors may-be had in the operationof the machine; and the following is a more detailed description of thepresent embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred meansby which these advantageous results maybe accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, I have shown in Fig. l a` generalarrangement of the apparatus. There is a framework designated generallyit! and consisting of a pair of spaced supportingv end standards Il withopenings at intervals therethrough and an arcuate xed apron orsupporting plate l2 located between these standards ll and upon whichsurface the work to be traveled rests,there being suitable openings aSi3 at spaced intervals along the apron i2 at which the differentprinting units operate and through which the different printing unitsare driven. A cushioning belt lil extends over this fixed apron l2 andis guided about the pulleys l5 and i6 and the inwardly spaced pulley ilpositioned to prevent the belt from passing through the last operatingunit of the machine Where severing occurs, although severing may be hadagainst this belt if desired.

The supply of the web material to be printed is indicated at I8 and isled from this reel over a guide pulley it and thence over the Xed apronl2 and belt i4 through the apparatus, which will be more fully describedlater, and fed by means v means (not shown) to the reeling mechanism 22to be suitably reeled for transmittal to some other location, while theportion of the web which is unused and is designated as scrap 23 may bedelivered to some container or the like for suitable disposal. A motor25 through suitable reduction gears drives the large gear 26 from whichpower is supplied to the diiferent units. I

The units for operating upon the work may be of any suitable ntunber. Ihave here illustrated four which are designated A, B, C and D'. Theunits are generally alike, although they may vary in certain details,which will be hereinafter pointed out. Each consists of a frame member30 which is pivoted to the spaced end standards Il by reason of the ears3| extending between these standards and receiving the pivot pin 32which is provided with a head 33 at one end and a threaded portion 34 atthe other end upon which the nut having a knurled head 35 is positioned.Each of these frame members 30 may be adjusted about this pivotconnection with the standards I I by means of an adjustable linkdesignated 36 and consisting of aimember 31 pivoted to the standard anda member 38 pivoted to the frame 30, these members having a threadedconnection' between them by reason of the threaded part 39 and the nutor handle portion 40 so that an adjustment of this linkage 36 may be hadto swing the frame 30 about its pivot 32, to vary the space between theprint cylinder and the bearer to accommodate work of dierentthicknesses.

A bearer roll designated 45 is mounted in the standards |I at thelocation of each of the openings I3 in the apron I2. This roll is drivenby means .of a gear 46 fixed thereon which meshes with the large gear 26operated by the motor 25. A printing cylinder or mandrel 41 is mountedon a removable spindle in the frame member 30 which is driven by meansof a gear 48 meshing with the gear 46 of the bearer roll 45. Ink issupplied to the printing cylinder 41 from the ink reservoir 49 by meansof a series of rolls 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 51. This reservoirconsists of a pocket formed between the roll 50 and the doctor blade 5|.This doctor blade 5I is adjusted to control the amount of ink deliveredby means of a plurality of threaded members |10 which engage the`undersurface of the doctor blade as at |1| so as to force it closer toor allow .lt to be spaced a little more from the reservoir roll 50.After these members |10 are adjusted they are locked in place by wingbolts |12 that their position may be maintained and the ink supplydefinitely controlled.

The roll 50 rotates intermittently while the roll 52 is oscillated toalternately contact with the roll 50 and the conveyor roll 53 which inturn transmits the ink to the conveyor roll 54, thence to the inkingdrum 55 and from this inking drum by means of the conveyor rolls 56 and51 to the printing cylinder. The oscillating inking drum 55 is driven bymeans of its gear 59 from the gear 48 through the spur gear 58, whilethe rolls 54, 56 and 51 are driven by frictional contact with the drum55, the roll 53 driven by frictional contact with the roll 54, and theroll 52 driven by frictional contact with either the roll 53 or 50. Acam 60 rocks the lever arm 6| which is pivoted as at 62 and which isconnected by means of the link 63 to a lever arm 64 which carries a pawl65 to engage the ratchet teeth 66 on the ratchet guard 61 which is Xedto the shaft 68 upon which the roll 50 is mounted.

An adjustable guard 61 covers a portion of the ratchet wheel. At eachreciprocation the roll 50 is moved an amount dependent on the adjustmentof the guard so as to determine lthe number of teeth which are grippedon the ratchet wheel, the guard serving to cause the ratchet to slideover some teeth according to its setting. The roll 52 has a shaft 69which is mounted in the U-shaped bearings 10, while the lever arm 1|which is pivoted as at 12 also is connected to this shaft 69 at one ofits ends. A cam 13 operates the rod 14 against the action of the spring15 tending to hold it against the face of the cam so as to swing thelever arm 1| about its pivot and rock the shaft 69 and roll 52 fromcontact with the roll 63 to contact with the roll 50.

y As rotary movement is transmitted to the printing drum to turn itabout its pivot trunnions 15 in suitable bearings 16 a transversemovement is also given the drum by reason of the cam faces 11 and 18which are diametrically oppositely disposed and which engage the guidingrolls 19 so that as the cylinder rotates it is also movedaxially backand forth to better distribute its printing ink, both for the receptionof the same from roll 54 and the transmission of the ink to theconveying rolls 56 and 51.

Pins extend inwardly from the opposite sides of frame 30 and a bar 66having an opening 81 receives the pin 85. These bars also each have abore 88 receiving a spring 69 which has one end engaging the pin 95 andthe other end en` gagingV an adjustable abutment 90 which is threaded inthe end of the bore 88. At the opposite end of each of the bars 86 thereis a bearing for the shaft 9| one of which mounts the rolls 56 and theother of which mounts the roll 51. These rolls are drawn against'the inkdrum 55 by means of these springs 89, while they are rocked about theirpivots by a spring 92 tending to swing these rolls away from each other,while the thumb screw 93 for roll 56, and 94 for roll 51, engaging thebars swing the roll about their pivot so that they will rmly contact theprinting plate on the cylinder 41. The printing cylinder 41 is shown inmore detail in Fig. 4. Here the frame member 30 is shown in which theprint cylinder has its support. The cylinder or mandrel consists of atubular member 95 which has a gear 96 at one end with va neck portion 91having a forced fit with the tubular member 95 so as to function as apart thereof, while there is a bushing 98 having aI forced fit with theother end of the tube, as illustrated. 'I'he gear member 91 has a bore99, while the bushing has a bore |06 for the reception of spindle |0|which ts the bore 99 and has an enlarged portion |02 for tting the bore|00. This spindle also has an enlarged portion |63 against which thebushing 98 abuts at one end while it has a head portion |94 which has athreaded pin |05 to engage the frame 39 by which its engagement may beadjustable. An adjustable bearing |08 has threaded engagement with theframe 30 as at |09 and forms an abutment for the end ||0 of the gear orbody portion of the mandrel, while its bore receives the spindle |0|which is bound rmly in position by the'nut ||2 having engagement withthe threads ||3 of the spindle I0 This spindle does not turn but themandrel turns on the spindle. To mount the printing plate in position Iprovide a collar H4 having undercut edges H5, which collar abuts thegear 96; a backing up plate 6 engages this collar and serves as asupport for the print plate I1. A

binding collar l I8 having undercut edges ||9 engages the opposite edgeoi the printing plate |l'| and the whole is secured in position througha washer |20 which is urged toward the lgear end of the mandrel by meansof a nut |2| having threaded engagement as at |22 with the tubularportion of the mandrel. The taper of the undercut edges binds the printplate iirmly in position.

The bearer roll is shown in more detail in Fig. 5 and is similar in manyrespects to the mounting of the printing cylinder. It is mounted in thestandard li of the apparatus. There is an adjustable bearing |25 havingthreaded engagement as at E25 with the standard and provided with a bore|27 for the reception of a spindle |28. This spindle is enlarged as at|29 to extend through the bearing |30 in the opposite standard H and isprovided with a head |3| which has some suitable adjustable means as at|32 for engagement with the frame |35 has threaded engagement with thethreaded end |35 of the spindle |28 to bind this spindle in position.The tubular body of this bearer roll is designated |31 and has-the gear46 provided with a neck portion |38 to extend into this tubular memberwith a suiciently tight t so that the two parts will turn together,While there is a bushing i3d having a forced iit with the opposite endof the tube |31 to provide a bearing for the spindle |28. A collar |40is slid over the tube |31 and then the bearer or make ready surface lillis positioned on this tubular cylinder which is of a suicient dimensionto accommodate the print plate and after which there is a spacing washer|42 provided, through which the parts are held together against the gearby the nut |53 having threaded engagement as at IM with the tube |37.

The hereinbeiore describedV print cylinder and bearer roll are such aswould be used in units A, B or C, but a different pair of rolls will beused in unit D which is the last unit to operate upon the work wheresome cutting of the work is desired to be accomplished at the same timethat the last printing and/or embossing occurs, and accordingly, I haveillustrated the modification which is necessary for this cutting actionto occur. The printing cylinder and bearer roll will be mounted the sameas that above described. However, in place of having a collar ||4 `thecollar now designated as |50 will be slid upon the print cylinder S5 andwill be provided with cutting edges |5| in addition to the undercut toreceive a printing and embossing platel |52 to be bound beneath thebeveled surfaces |53 of the collarV |50. The binder member |54 also hasthe beveled surfaces |55 and a cutter |56, the same as the cutter |5|.The filling in washer |20 and binding nut |23 will be the same asheretofore. The bearer cylinder will have a washer as |40 but instead ofhaving a plain back up surface I 4| I will provide a member |60 withrecesses |6| receiving rubber bands |62 which will be opposite theraised portions |63 for embossing on the print roll, while the edges |64of this bearer surface snugly t within and form cooperating cuttingedges with |5| and |56 so that as rotation occurs any material whichextends across these cutting edges will be severed by action of thecutting edge shearing against the surface |54 of the bearer roll, whilethe embossing will take place by reason of the raised portions |63forcing the stock into the rubber surfaces |62 while allowing theirremaining surfaces to be maintained in the gen- A nutv eral plane of thestock between these embossed portions. The usual washer |42 will beprovided and binding nut |43 for this bearer roll.

Where it is desired that a perforation extend transversely of the travelof the Work for later tearing the work apart, the printing cylinder orplate will have raised portions |65 extending transversely of the travelof the work or axially of the roll, which raised portions may beinterrupted at intervals and serve by means of engagementwith'corresponding steel portions |65 on the bearer roll to providepoints of` cuttingor perforation of this stock, it being usually desiredthat these cutting edges be interrupted at such points as |61 so that acontinuous cut across the work is not provided, but is held together atthe portion |68 of resilient material so that the work may be torn apartafter the same is reeled up and transmitted to such location as may bedesired.

The roll 52 is unique in some respects in that it is made up of one ormore short sections |70, lll, the section |10 being larger andutilizedfor transferring the ink from the reservoir roll 50 to the roll 53. Inother words, if I am utilizing stock which is of a width only half thatofthe printing roll, such for instance as that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, Iwill then transfer ink only one-half of the Width of the capacity of themachine, thereby saving ink which may be used. i

This roll is thus made up so that the larger diameter sections andsmaller diameter sections may be suitably arranged upon its axisorspindle to position the large diameter section in the desiredlocation.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructionillustratedbut I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilegeof resorting to all the mechanical changes to whichfthe device issusceptible, the invention being defined and limited only bythe termsofv the appended claims.

I claim:

l; In a printing apparatus, a support, an arcuate apron provided with aplurality of openings on said support, a cushioning belt trained oversaid apron, means for moving said belt, a web to be printed positionedon and movable with said belt, and a plurality of units each having aprinting cylinder positioned at one of said openings to print on theconvex side of said Web, and a bearer roll for each of said printingcylinders positioned on -the opposite 'side of said' cushioning belt andat the location ing.

2. In a printing apparatus, a support, an arcuate apron provided with aplurality of openings on said supporta cushioning belt trained over saidapron, means for moving said belt, a web to be printed positioned on andmovable with said belt, a plurality ofk units each having a printingcylinder positioned at one of said openof said openings to print on theconvex side of said web', and

a guide adjacent one of said openings for guiding said cushioning beltout of engagement with the Web and one of said units.

3. In a printing apparatus, means toy move the web to be printed on acurvature, and a plurality ofA units for printing the work on the convexside of said web pivoted to a support, each of said units having anadjustable link f pivoted thereto and tosaid support for additionally4supporting and adjusting each of the units to and from the work. l

4. In a printing apparatus, a support, a common gear rotatably mountedon said support,

means for rotating said gear, a plurality of units for printing thework, each unit being spaced from each other and pivotally secured onsaid supportl and provided with a print cylinder :and

. adjustable about its pivot to move the print cylinder to and from thework, individual impression cylinder for each printing cylinder of saidunits and secured to said support and each provided with a pinion gearmeshing with said common gear to be rotated thereby. o

5. In a printing apparatus, a support, a common gear rotatably mountedon said support, means for rotating said gear, a plurality of units forprinting the work, each unit comprising a printing cylinder having agear thereon and ink transferring cylinders, each unit being pivotallysecured on said support and in spaced relation with each other,individual impression cylinder secured to said support for each printingcylinder of said units and each provided with a gear meshing with saidprinting cylinder gear and with said common gear for rotating saidprinting cylinder and said impression cylinder.

6. In a printing apparatus, a support, a plurality of printing unitscarried by said support, each of said units having a frame portioncarrying a printing cylinder and inking means, and means to removablymount said cylinder on said frame comprising a spindle upon which saidcylinder rotates, and a locking member releasably secured to saidspindle and engaging said frame for detachably securing said spindle tosaid frame whereby upon the release of said locking member said spindlemay be disengaged from said frame and withdrawn therefrornand saidprinting cylinder may be then removed from said unit without disturbingother elements of the apparatus. i

7. In a printing apparatus, a support, a plurality of printing unitscarried by said support, each of said units having a frame portioncarrying a printing cylinder and inking means, and means to removablymount said cylinder on said frame comprising a spindle upon which saidcylinder rotates, said spindle having an abutment at one end forengaging a portion of said frame and threaded at its other end forreleasably receiving a locking member `for detachably securing saidspindle to said frame whereby upon the disengagement of said lockingmember from said spindle it may be withdrawn from said frame and saidprinting cylinder then removed from said unit without disturbing otherelements of the apparatus.

8. In a printing apparatus, a support, means to move a web to be printedwith relation to said support, a self-contained printing unit providedwith a print cylinder for printing the work, means to pivotally mountsaid unit on said support, an expandable link having one end connectedto said support and the other end connected to said unit, and adjustablemeans within said link intermediate its said ends to operatively varythe length between the endsi of said link to change the position of theunit.

9, In a printing apparatus, a support, means to move a web to be printedwith relation to said support, a plurality of self-contained printingunits each provided with a print cylinder for printing the work, a pivotlocated eccentric to the axis of the print cylinder for mounting each ofsaid units on said support, a plurality of eX- pandable links eachhaving one end connected to said support and the other end connected toone of said units, and adjustable means within each link intermediateits said ends to operatively vary the'length between the ends of saidlink to change the position of the unit and move the print cylinder toand from the work.

10. In a printing apparatus, a stationary support, an arcuate apron xedon said support, a cushioning belt trained over said apron, means formoving said belt over said apron, a web to be printed positioned on andmovable with said belt, a plurality of units at spaced locations alongsaid beltA and each provided with a rotary print cylinder for contactingand printing the web.

1l. In a printing apparatus, a stationary support, an arcuate apronfixed on said support, a cushioning belt trained over said apron, meansfor moving said belt over said apron, a web to be printed positioned onand movable with said belt, a plurality of units each provided with arotary print cylinder for printing the web, means to pivotally supporteach of said units for adjustment as a whole about its pivot to move theprint cylinder to and from the web.

l2. In a printing apparatus, a cushioning belt for backing up the work,means for moving said belt, a web to be printed positioned on andmovable with said belt, a unit privided with a rotary print cylinder forprinting the web, means separating the paths of travel of said belt andweb after printing, and means for acting on the web alone afterseparation from the cushioning belt for cutting through portions of saidweb.

13. In a printing apparatus, a xed arcuate apron, a cushioning beltengageable with said apron for backing up the work, means for movingsaid belt along said apron, a web to be printed positioned on andmovable vwith said belt, a unit provided with a rotary print cylinderfor printing the web, means separating the paths of travel of saidbeltand web after printing, and means for acting on the web alone afterseparation from the cushioning belt for cutting through portions of saidweb. i

14. In a printing apparatus, a xed arcuate apron provided with anopening therein, a cushioning belt. for backing up the work engageablewith said apron, means for moving said belt along said apron, a web tobe printed positioned on and movable with said belt, a unit providedwith a rotary print. cylinder for printing the web, said cushioningbelt-passing through said opening in said apron and said web continuingalong said apron for separating the paths of travel of said belt and webafter printing, and means for acting on the web alone after separationfrom the cushioning belt for cutting through portions of said web.

l5. Ina printing apparatus, a fixed arcuate apron provided with a firstopening and a second opening therein, a cushioning belt for backing` upthe work engageable with said apron, means for moving said belt alongsaid apron, a

eb to be printed positioned on and movable with said belt, a unitprovided with a rotary print cylinder for printing the web, vsaidcushioning belt passing through the rst said opening in said apron andsaid web continuing along said apron for separating the paths of travelof said belt and web after printing, said second opening beingV locatedin said apron along the portion of which said web alone travels, andcutting rolls on opposite sides of the web acting through said secondopening for cutting portions of said web.

CURT J. ROI-ILAND.

